Razor blade container



Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATNT QFFICE RAZOR BLADE CONTAINER of Pennsylvania Application November 14, 1939, Serial No. 304,391

3 Claims.

This invention relates to safety razor blade containers and dispensers of the type having two compartments respectively adapted to contain and dispense new blades and to receive used blades.

The primary objects of the invention are: to provide such a razor blade container which has an unusually attractive neat appearance; which is particularly adapted for cheap mass production, and which due to its cheapness may be thrown away after use thus disposing of the used blades contained therein; to provide in such a container novel partitioning means for dividing the same into variable capacity new and used blade compartments; to provide such partitioning means which additionally functions to facilitate removal of new blades from the new blade compartment thereof; to provide such partitioning means which is adapted to frictionally resiliently engage the container walls to maintain itself in position against accidental displacement; to dispose such partitioning means in such a manner in the container that one end thereof is swingable under substantial pressure to vary the capacity of the respective container compartments, while the other end is fixedly maintained in its most efiicient operative position; and to provide in such a container or package means for preventing accidental escape or discharge of the used blades contained therein.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a substantially actual size perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2, a longitudinal section, twice actual size of the preferred embodiment of the invention, showing both compartments thereof partly filled with new and used safety razor blades respectively;

Figure 3, a section along the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 4, a substantially actual size perspective view showing the various parts of the container in exploded or disassembled relation.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawing, A designates a box body and B, the box top, said box body A and top B constituting one form of box which may be conveniently embodied in my invention. In this particular type of box the top B is of the slide type such as shown in the Batdorf Patent 2,083,356, granted June 8, 1937. To this end, the upper edge of the body A is formed with a two diameter curl or beading consisting of the small diameter beadings 2 medially longitudinally disposed on opposite sides of the body A and separating the large diameter headings or curls 3 formed at and adjacent the end portions of the body A. Also, as clearly disclosed in said Batdorf patent, the slide top B is formed with downwardly and inwardly curved side flanges 4 to fit about and below and slidably receive said two diameter curl or beading 2, 3 of the box body A. The flanges 4 are formed with cut out portions on each side to form a straight abrupt edge which is bent inwardly to form a stop tongue or shoulder 5 on each side flange 4 to respectively engage the cooperating opposed faces of the shoulders 1 formed by the abrupt end faces or edges of the large diameter portions 3 of the two diameter beading or curl. Thus the stop tongues or shoulders 5 of the box top engage the shoulders I of the large diameter beading to act as limit stops for opening movement of the box top B, as shown in Figure 2, thereby preventing the top B from becoming separated from the body A.

If desired, and in accordance with usual known practice, the top B may be formed with a snap catch lug or latch 9 stamped down or inward in the top B to engage and ride up over the end edge beading or curl 3 of the body A as the top B is shoved towards closed position, and after the top B reaches closed position to snap down inside the box A in engagement with the upper end edge portion or beading 3 of the box body A to hold said top B closed against unintentional displacement, although application of sufiicient vpressure in opening said top B will cause the lug 9 to ride back over the end edge or beading 3 of the body A.

The above described preferred form of box is merely one of various types of boxes to which my invention may be applied, it being essential only that some sort of preferably substantially deep preferably oblong box be used, it being noted of course that the box body A shown in the drawing is substantially deeper than that shown in the aforementioned Batdorf patent. The type of cover used therewith is not essential.

Disposed in the box body A is a false bottom or longitudinally extending partition 0 serving to divide the same into an upper compartment H) for new razor blades D, access to which may be had by opening the box top B, and a lower compartment H for used blades E, access to which may be had through a transversely extending slot or opening I2 formed in the box bottom, preferably adjacent one end of the box and spaced away from the far end of the box at least the length of the razor blades E or other articles to be inserted through slot I2, so that said blades E in being inserted through said slot I2 will not butt against the end of the compartment II before they have entirely passed through said slot I 2.

The partition or false bottom C, clearly shown in perspective in Figure 4 of the drawing, preferably consists of a one piece sheet metal or other preferably slightly resilient material stamping or member C comprising a main substantially flat body portion I3, an upwardly curved or sloping integral portion or integral scoop portion I4, both portions I3 and I4 preferably being of only slightly less width than the box body A so as to fit conveniently thereinto, and a downwardly depending supporting foot or member I5 integral with said sloping portion I4, and preferably of less width than the box body A so as to abut against the flat end wall portion thereof between the adjacent rounded corner portions, as well as for the sake of economy of material and light weight.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the scoop or sloping portion I4 of the partition C curves upward from the plane of portion I3 for a distance substantially less than the depth of the box body A, while the supporting foot I5 curving down from the upper edge of' portion I4 is preferably of substantially the same length-as the depth of the box body A, whereby the lower edge I 'I of supporting foot I5 extends for a substantial distance below the plane-of flat portion I3. Thus in the assembled condition of the partition C in the box body A the supporting foot I5 maintains the flat portion I3 of the partition at a slight upward incline with its lower end I8 in engagement with the adjacent box end, while the rounded upper edge I B of the partition at the junction between portions I I and I5 lies only slightly below or preferably at substantially the same level as the upper edge beading 3 of the adjacent box end, whereby said beading 3 cannot interfere with removal of new blades from the container.

Preferably in forming partition C the supporting foot I5 is bent downwardly at such an angle that prior to insertion of partition C in the box body A the distance between the longitudinal extremities, that is between the end edges I1 and I8 of the partition C is slightly greater than the length of the-box body A. In inserting the partition C into the box body A the foot I5 is slightly resiliently compressed towards the center of said partition and after insertion, due to the inherent resiliency of the metal or other slightly resilient material of which said partition C is formed, the foot I5 tends to return to normal position, thereby pressing both lower end edges or extremities I! and I8 of the partition into engagement with the opposite end walls of the box body- A. The aforementioned resilient frictional engagement is preferably just sufficient to prevent said partition C from rattling around or becoming accidentally or unintentionally misplaced, as where the container may be turned upside down or dropped when the box top B is open or removed.

Also it is to be noted that the aforementioned frictional engagement of the partition end edge I8 with the adjacent box end also prevents said partition end portion adjacent the edge I8 from accidentally riding up over the upper edge or beading 3 of its corresponding box end and permitting the escape of used blades between said beading 3 and the lower face of the box top B when said box top B is in open position as shown in Figure 2, although of course if desired some positive stop means may be provided for serving the same function.

In the use of the container a supply of new razor blades D is placed in the upper or new blade compartment II) on top of the partition C. Preferably said new safety razor blades D are wrapped in the customary and usual manner in order to prevent damage to their edges by contact with the box sides, and also to prevent any moisture from reaching them.

To remove a blade for use, the top B is moved to open position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereupon the users finger may be inserted in the box or container and placed upon the top blade D. Sufficient pressure is exerted to give a good frictional grip upon the blade D while the same is urged or slid up the scoop or curved or inclined portion I4 and over the curved upper end I6 thereof and out of the container by moving the finger and blade in that direction.

After the blade has been used, said used blade may be easily and safely disposed of by inserting the same through slot I2 into the used blade receptacle or compartment II, first preferably making sure that the top B is closed. As the receptacle or compartment II becomes full of used blades it may be seen that the end I8 of partition C, which is in frictional contact with the box end, is gradually forced upward by the insertion of additional used blades. As the new blades in compartment I!) are used up more room is provided for the upward swinging movement of partition C with consequent enlargement of compartment II as said compartment becomes filled up.

It is to be noted that the position of slot I2 with respect to the lower face of partition C is such that used blades E must be bent during insertion through said slot I2, and due to their inherent resiliency return to their normal fiat condition after insertion, whereupon it becomes impossible for them to be removed or accidentally displaced through said slot I2.

I claim:

1. A razor blade container comprising a substantially deep oblong slide top box having a transversely extending used razor blade slot formed in its bottom at least a razor blades length distant from one end thereof, in combination with a removable longitudinally extending resiliently longitudinally expansible partition disposed in said box to divide the same into upper 1 and lower compartments, said partition being under longitudinal compression and comprising a sheet metal stamping formed with a fiat portion having one end in engagement with one end of the box, a scoop portion curving upwardly from said flat portion into engagement with the box top adjacent the other box end, and a supporting foot bent resiliently down from said scoop portion into supporting engagement with the box bottom, said supporting foot also being in resilient engagement with its respective adjacent box end and the longitudinal compression of said partition forcing its respective ends into resilient frictional engagement with the respective box ends, the scoop end of said partition being immovable vertically due to the engagement with the box top and bottom of said scoop portion and said supporting foot respectively, and the other end of said partition being free to move vertically under substantial pressure caused by insertion of blades through said used blade slot.

2. A razor blade container comprising a substantially deep box and a cover for the top of said box, said cover being operable to uncover a substantial portion of the interior of said box, and the bottom of said box being formed with a narrow transverse slot of a length slightly exceeding the width of a razor blade and spaced from one end of said box a distance at least equal to the length of a razor blade, in combination with a removable resilient longitudinally compressed sheet material partition disposed in said box and dividing the same into upper and lower compartments to which access is had respectively through the space uncovered by said cover when open and through said slot in the bottom of the box, said partition comprising a relatively long inclined flat portion having one end in engagement with an end of the box, a scoop portion sloping up from said inclined fiat portion to substantially the level of the upper edge of the other box end and closely adjacent thereto, and a supporting foot depending from said scoop portion and resting on the box bottom to maintain said scoop portion at the proper operative level, the longitudinal compression of said partition forcing its respective ends into yieldable frictional contact with the respective opposed ends of said box to maintain said partition in assembled associated relation in said box.

3. A razor blade container comprising a substantially deep box and a cover for the top of said box, in combination with a removable resilient longitudinally compressed sheet metal partition disposed in said box and dividing the same into upper and lower compartments, said partition comprising a relatively long fiat inclined portion having one end in engagement with an end of the box, a scoop portion sloping up from said fiat inclined portion toward the upper edge of the other box end and closely adjacent to said latter box end, and a supporting foot depending from said scoop portion and resting on the box bottom to maintain said scoop portion at the proper operative level, the longitudinal compression of said partition forcing its respective ends into yieldable frictional contact with the respective opposed ends of said box.

HERMAN \V. RUEGER. 

